: allowing no middle ground between success and failure

Examples of make-or-break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This particular part of this year's Tour de France could be a make-or-break stage for the cyclists at the top. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 What Happens When Scale Meets Scrutiny As compounders scale across B2B (hospitals) and B2C (telehealth), regulatory compliance becomes make-or-break. Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 For Palencia, this season probably represented a make-or-break year in Chicago. Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Analysts say this is a make-or-break moment for Southeast Asian trade diplomacy. Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for make-or-break

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of make-or-break was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“Make-or-break.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make-or-break. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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